Common causes of extraction of teeth in Saudi Arabia

Assistant Professor of Oral Biology & Faculty Coordinator, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, P.O.Box 1540, Jeddah 21441, Saudi ArabiaA random sample of dentists practising in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was requested to record all teeth extracted over a 2-month period specifying the patient’s age, sex, tooth number and reason for extraction and type of dental practice. When all age-groups were pooled in both primary and permanent teeth, caries was the cause for extraction in 62.7% of cases. However, periodontal disease was the major factor in patients over 40 years of age, accounting for 51 %. More teeth were extracted in males because of periodontal disease (21.82%) than females (15.22%). Orthodontic reasons accounted for 6.76% of the extraction in females and only 2.02% of that in males. There was a different age distribution for extraction between males and females. Males, over 50 years of age, experienced significantly more extractions (19.9%) than females (8.9%)